What you have said makes sense. Till April 2020, I used to write 4-5 articles each month and made barely $5. I was so lazy, I did not even bother researching the work of Top Writers. But since mid-May, I have started putting in effort on my articles as well as the publications I submit them to, and though it's small, I have seen positive change.

If you love Medium, Medium will love you back!

The path only goes uphill from here, I am sure. So yes, consistency is the key. But even more important than that is to enjoy your work. :)